Hamburg Police Shoot Man with Axe Ahead of Euros Match.
In a dramatic incident in central Hamburg, a man armed with an axe was shot and seriously injured by police after he threatened officers. The altercation occurred near a fanzone for Dutch football supporters ahead of the Euro 2024 match between the Netherlands and Poland (As reported by BBC)
According to initial reports, the man brandished a pickaxe and an incendiary device at police officers. A later statement from a Hamburg police spokesperson clarified that the suspect attempted to ignite a petrol bomb. Officers responded with pepper spray before resorting to gunfire.
The incident took place around 12:30 local time (10:30 GMT) on the Reeperbahn, a main street and nightlife area close to the Dutch fanzone. Video footage posted online shows the man wielding an axe in front of police officers before a series of gunshots can be heard.
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, is currently receiving medical attention. Authorities have not commented on his motivations.
Despite the disturbance, preparations for the match, scheduled to kick off at 15:00 local time, proceeded as planned. The stadium is about five miles from the city centre where the incident occurred.
Approximately 30,000 Dutch fans and a similar number of Polish fans are in Hamburg for the match. BBC Sport journalist Gary Rose reported that the atmosphere remained positive, and the incident did not appear to have affected the supporters’ enthusiasm.
Rory Smith, the New York Times’s chief soccer correspondent in Hamburg, noted the incident’s proximity to the fanzone but confirmed that the match’s preparations were unaffected.
